The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1887-03-25

I so into . sculptor's studio. and soc mir
shaping . statue. II, has chisel in on.
hand AMI nallet in tho other, aud he
gives very gentle stroks-clicx. click,
click! I say:
"Why don't you strike hsrderf'
''Oh!' he replies, 'sthat would SKATER
the statue. Ican't do it that way; must
do It this way"
So he works on, and after awhile the
features come out, and every body that
enters the studio il charmed and fasci-
uated.
. Well, God has your soul under process
Of development, and It is the little annoy.
ances and vexations Of life that are chisel.
ing out your immortal nature. It - click,
click, clicxi wonder why some great
providence does not come, and with one
stroke prepsre you for heaven. All, mo-:
God saws that il not the way. And 30 he
keeps on BY strokes Of little vexations,
until ut last you shall 30 . glad spectacle
for angels and flor men.
You know that largo fortune may be
spent in small change, and q vast amount
Of moral character may 60 away in small
depletion. 1t is the little troubles of life
that are having more effect upon you than
great ones. A smarm of locusts will kill
grain field sooner than an incursiOn Of
three or four cattle. You say:
''Since l los. my child. since lost my
property, have boon different man."
But you do not recognize the ARCHITECT
ure of little annoyances that are hewing.
digging, cutting. shaping, splitting and
interioininy your moral qualities. Rats
may sink Il ship. Ono luclfer match may
send destruction through block of store
houses. Catherine de Ne licis got her
death by smelling poisonous rose.
Columbus, by stopping and asking for a
piece Of bread and drink Of water ut q
Franciscan invent, was led to the d 8
covcry Of n new world. And there is an
intimate connection between triflcs and
immensi:ies, between nOthin - and every
things.
Now, be careful to lcs none Of those an
noyanccs go through your soul unarraign
ed. Compel them to administer to your
spiritual wealth. The scratch of q six.
penny nail some times produces lockjaw.
and the clip of n most intinitcsimal annoy.
ancs may damage you forever. Do no,
let any annoyance or perplexity come
across your soul without its making you
better.
Our National Government does not think
it belittling to pus a tax on pins, and q tax
on buckles, and a tax on shoes. Tne indi-
vidual taxes do not amount to much, but
in the aggregate millions and millions Of
dollars. And would have you, G
Christian man, put high tariff
on every annoyance and vexation
that come through your soul. Thu.
IN ght not amount 10 much in single cases
but, in the aggregate, it would be a great
revenue Of spiritual strength and salts
faction. A bee can suck honey even out
of II ncttle: and il you have the grace Of
God in your heart, you can get sweetness
cut Of that which would other wise irri.
tate and annoy.
A returned missionary told me that
company OF adventures rowing up the
Ganges were stung to death by flies thai
infess that region 1t certain seasons. ]
have seen the earth strewed with car.
casses of men slain by insect annOyances
The only way TO get prepared for the
great troubles of life is to conquer these
small troubles. What would you say of
soldier who refused to load his gun, or to
70 into the conflict because it was only y
saying:
IL am not going to expend my ammunf
tion on 4 skirmish; wait until there comsa
Il general engagement, and then you will
see how COURAGEOUS / ON and what bat
Ting ! will do"
The General would say to such man:
'.,f you are not faithful in a skirI1ish
you would be nothing in q general engage
ment."
And have to tell you, o Christian men.
il you can not apply tho principles OF
Christ's religion on u small scale, you will
never BE- able to apply them on a large
scale.
Ii had my way witi you / woull have
you possess all possible worldly prosper
ity. would have YOU eaca ono a len,
q river flowing through it, geraniums
and shrubs on the sides, and this
grass and flowers rs beautiful as
though the rainbow had fallen.
would have you n house, n splendid man.
5 on, and the bed should be covered with
u DbOistery dipped in the setting sun. |
would have every hall in your house set
with statues anl statuettes, and then !
would have the four quarters of the globa
pour in all their Injuries on your table,
and you should have forks Of silver and
knives of gold. inlaid with diam )nds and
Then you should each one al
you have the fiucst horses and your pick
Of the equipages of the world.
Then / would have you live 10 years,
and you should not have pain or ac.io
until tho last breath.
'.Not each one of us" you say.
Yes; each one of you.
'Not to your encmiesn'
Yes: the only Il X ,renc, I would mako
with them would be that I woul1 put lit.
tie extra gilt on their walls aud a little
Extra embroidery on their slippers. But
You say:
why does not God give US all these
Ali b.thinh myself He is wiser. II
would make fools and slugy iris Of as il
we had our way. No man puts his best
picture in tn, portico or vestibule Of his
house God meant this world to be only
III. vestibule of heaven, that grea. gal
lery of tn, u livors5 tow Ard which we are
aspiring. We must not have it too coed il
thus world, or VIC would want no heaven.
Polycarp was condemned to be burnt to
death. The stake was planted. He was
to it. The faggots wore plac ID
arounl him. the Are kind.ei. but history
tells us that tn. n ,mes bont outward, liks
the canvas Of ship in a stout bre,z.. 50
that the flames, instead Of destroying
Polycarp, were only a wall be:wsen him
and his enemies. They had actually to
destroy him with the p0niari; the flames
W ,uld not touch him.
Well. my hearers, want you to unier
stand that by Gods grace the flames OF
trial, instead Of consuming your soul. are
only going to be wall Of defense and
canopy OF blessing and the promise, as He
did to Poiycarp.
When thou wnlkest through the IRE thou
shalt not De burnt.
Now you do not understand; you shall
shall know hereafter In Holyen you VII!